In the Spotlight today is the 13th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival (HSFF), recently named an Academy-qualifying festival and named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the "Top 25 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" for its solid track record of presenting the best upcoming short filmmakers and dynamic programming. In addition to short film, HSFF also welcomes music videos, websiodes, commercials, TV shows, Virtual Reality and more. With competitive screenings unfolding at Hollywood's famed TCL Chinese Theatres, HSFF is an ideal place for indie filmmakers to rub elbows with industry players, right in their own backyard.

This year's HSFF will include screenings, daily networking events, panels, and seminars every single day for 10 days. HSFF has featured over 2,000 projects showcasing stars and filmmakers including Luke Wilson, Eli Roth, Sofia Loren, Bill Plympton, Anthony and Joe Russo, Issa Rae, Felicia Day, Jennifer Morrison, JT Mollner, and C. Robert Cargill (writer Doctor Strange). The 2016 HSFF awarded the Kodak Best Short prize to Black Canaries, which also took home Best Cinematography. Best Director went to Madaran and the Company 3 Grand Jury winner went to Catching Fireflies . Company 3 awarded all three winning films a total of $60,000 USD in post production services. The Panavision Future Filmmaker award went to Out Of The Village which included $10,000 in Panavision equipment rental.

In addition to festival programming, HollyShorts also hosts the Film Conference & Market during the August event. This event features additional speaking engagements, seminars, and workshops tackling the most important issues facing the entertainment industry. The gathering features the major studios, networks, agencies and influential speakers. Previous participants included such companies as Fox, Lionsgate, Shorts HD, Electus, Machinima, Route 1 Films, Gersh, Cartoon Network, Film LA, Dailymotion, and Vuguru, to name a few.

MISSION AND OBJECTIVEHollyShorts Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVALSelect HSFF award-winning projects will receive distribution through festival partner BITPIX and have the opportunity to screen at monthly events hosted by HSFF in major cities. Additionally, HSFF will host a theatrical run for winners in Los Angeles for Academy consideration. All invited filmmakers will enjoy an all access pass to the screenings, panels, filmmaker lounge (which includes sponsored cocktails), filmmaker networking happy hour receptions each night after panels, and the opening night red carpet and awards ceremony.

HSFF is now considering projects under 40 minutes - qualify your work today!

Hollywood March 6, 2017--Writer/Producers Tye Sheridan and Nikola Todorovic co-founders of VR production company Aether are teaming up with the HollyShorts Film Festival to launch a VR Experience at this year's HollyShorts. Sheridan and Todorovic will head up the HollyShorts 2017 VRJury and help curate the experience and VR conversations which will take place at the TCL Chinese Theater and Roosevelt Hotel August 10-19, 2017.

HollyShorts is now accepting submissions in their new VR category starting today. The announcement comes on the heels of HollyShorts being announced as an Academy Awards® qualifying festival. Sheridan and Todorovic have recently teamed up with Jaunt on a scripted VR experience called The Enlightened Ones.

Commented fest organizer Daniel Sol: "We are excited to have Tye and Nikola head up the Virtual Reality jury for this year's HollyShorts. It's an exciting time for Storytelling and VR, filmmakers worldwide have been creating high quality groundbreaking immersive experiences and we can't wait to share them at this year's festival."

"We at Aether are extremely honored to be a part of the festival this year," commented Sheridan and Todorovic. "HollyShorts is one of our favorite festivals as it truly encourages artists to express their voice. It’s really thrilling to help bring the new VR category to the festival, especially now that VR storytelling is growing at such a rapid pace and opportunities for VR filmmakers to showcase their work are still limited."

Aether, Inc. is an American entertainment company based in Los Angeles, California primarily focused on the production of Film, Television and Virtual Reality content. The company was started by Tye Sheridan and Nikola Todorovic. The name Aether derives from early philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. It was later revitalized by the 20th century inventor, Nikola Tesla. Tesla believed the invisible substance, Aether, to be the elusive fifth element.

About HollyShortsHollyShorts Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best short films from around the globe. An official Academy Awards qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards®, HollyShorts is devoted to the advacement of filmmakers through a various screenings, film labs, conferences and networking events. The HollyShorts Film Festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less. Categories include Short Live Action, Short Animation, Short Documentary, Music Video, Webisode, and Youth Film.

HOLLYSHORTS NAMED AN ACADEMY AWARDS® QUALIFYING FILM FESTIVAL

Recipients of the HollyShorts Film Festival Best Short Film Grand Prize will be eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy Rules.

This year's 13th annual HollyShorts Film Festival takes place August 10-19, 2017 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, Roosevelt Hotel and other top venues in Hollywood, CA. The festival is now accepting early bird submissions for consideration, early bird deadline is February 3, to submit please visit: http://www.hollyshorts. com/festivalsubmissions.

Commented HollyShorts Film Festival co-founders Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont on the announcement: "We are thrilled and honored to be approved as an official Academy qualifying festival, it's truly a tremendous opportunity for our filmmakers and future Best Short Film Grand Prize winners!" HollyShorts is organized by SolMont Events and Nicole Castro.

About HollyShorts

HollyShorts Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. HollyShorts is devoted to the advancement of filmmakers through a various screenings, film labs, conferences and networking events. The HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 40 minutes or less. Categories include Short Animation, Short Live Action, Short Documentary, Music Video, Webisode, Commercials, Youth Film and Digital Microbudget.